Example of Fazakerley L2A3 re marked by Sterling

[Lee Enfield]

Here is an example of a Fazakerley manufactured L2A3 remarked and sold commercially by "Sterling" as a Mk4.
currently for sale at D&B Militaria in the UK
Deactivated Sterling SMG SN. 2103 ^

Notice the distinctive flanged magazine well,

how it originally looked


and the lack of patent markings on the bottom of the magazine well.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[mrclark303]

Now that's interesting, how did this come about, unused bodies from Fazakerley after the doors were padlocked for the last time perhaps?

[Lee Enfield]

Now that's interesting, how did this come about, unused bodies from Fazakerley after the doors were padlocked for the last time perhaps?

damaged and / or stripped bodies sold to Sterling as scrap.

[Peter Laidler]

Spoke to JE this morning re this and he said that the 'classified scrap' in the form of Sterling type SMG parts purchased from Donnington and used by Sterling was pretty-well limited to rear sigh assemblies and foresight protectore, finger guards and bayonet standards, all easily unpicked by overtime workers on a Saturday....., by the thousands. Nose caps occasionally if they were already loose in the scrap gun and the end cap locking ring if it was serviceable. PLUS anything that was still attached and not stripped out such as butts and trigger parts and an occasional breech block. But NOT barrels.

Sterling did not have the production line facility to fix the flanged magazine housing to the casing because as a heat sink, it would distort the casing. The Sterling method also slightly distorted the casing but their production method catered for their minimal amount.

He is mystified about that gun too

[Lee Enfield]

Spoke to JE this morning re this and he said that the 'classified scrap' in the form of Sterling type SMG parts purchased from Donnington and used by Sterling was pretty-well limited to rear sigh assemblies and foresight protectore, finger guards and bayonet standards, all easily unpicked by overtime workers on a Saturday....., by the thousands. Nose caps occasionally if they were already loose in the scrap gun and the end cap locking ring if it was serviceable. PLUS anything that was still attached and not stripped out such as butts and trigger parts and an occasional breech block. But NOT barrels.

Sterling did not have the production line facility to fix the flanged magazine housing to the casing because as a heat sink, it would distort the casing. The Sterling method also slightly distorted the casing but their production method catered for their minimal amount.

He is mystified about that gun too

Well they are KR serial numbered, so purportedly at least would have been serial numbered before Mr. Edmiston bought Sterling.

At the same time, according to the GoD book, Sterling obtained (bought back) stripped L2A3 bodies which had been intended to be supplied to the Indian Government.

Is it not likely that some (or most) of these guns were in fact "weary" L2A3s which had been stripped for spares? If I was an armourer/QM, I would issue the new guns, and send the garbage out
These have previously been discussed:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....ght=fazakerley

Markings and Spares sterlingl2a3.com